More than just traditional rural solicitors

Our team operates throughout Scotland, advising rural businesses of all types and size, including some of the country's leading rural sector bodies.

The breadth and depth of our team, and the work we carry out across the sector, means we’re fully immersed in rural affairs and able to understand and share your perspective on the challenges and opportunities you face.

From our bases across the country, in Inverness, Lerwick, Thurso, Glasgow and Edinburgh, our rural lawyers are on hand wherever and whenever you need us.

The rural business team also accesses a range of skills and expertise from across Harper Macleod’s full range of services, allowing us to advise far beyond the scope of the ‘traditional’ rural solicitor.

We work closely with colleagues in our market leading energy & natural resources team to enable you to maximise opportunities to exploit your natural resources, including wind, water and minerals.

Trust, estate planning and asset protection advice is provided in conjunction with our large team delivering personal legal services.

Advice on partnerships, family charters and constitutions and potential exits is delivered through our family-owned business specialists in the corporate team.

Our rural property experience also sees us regularly work with the leading banks and financial institutions on funding and refinancing rural businesses.

We are the sole supplier of property legal services to Scotland’s biggest landowner, Forestry Commission Scotland. We also act for a number of other leading rural sector bodies, including Scottish Natural Heritage and Cairngorms National Park Authority.

We are the sole supplier of property legal services to Scotland’s biggest landowner, Forestry Commission Scotland.

Related services for Individuals and Families

"Nothing is too much trouble for" Harper Macleod LLP’s "efficient and cost-effective" team, which "works together very well" and "provides pragmatic advice" while also being "easy to work with".

THE LEGAL 500 2018

The implementation of an estate planning project went very smoothly, thanks to the unique combination of expertise, professionalism and friendly personalities. The team demonstrated great depth and breadth of experience when dealing with the project, which spanned a variety of farming, business and property interests. I would not hesitate to recommend Harper Macleod: they offer high quality advice together with empathy and understanding of their clients’ needs.

Kate Baxter, Baxter Accounting & Tax Services

Work examples

Estate diversificationWe have advised a number of estate clients on various diversification projects, designed to generate new sources of income for the estate. Examples have included leisure developments and even a residential housing development.

Renewables projectsWe regularly advise our farming and estate clients on renewable projects. Our Energy & Natural Resources team has advised on more than 2.3GW of the total installed capacity from renewable projects in Scotland, more than a third to the total. We have advised on projects ranging from solar pv, anerobic digestion and micro hydro to large and small wind projects.

Farm purchases and salesWe have represented clients in numerous farm purchases and sale and, more recently, due to changing market conditions, we have been called upon to advise on a number of development sale agreements, some including complicated and bespoke development uplift provisions.

If an employee is dismissed for gross misconduct when they have been employed for just short of two years' service, can they add on the statutory minimum notice period so they can qualify to bring an unfair dismissal claim?

Contact one of our offices

As one of Scotland's leading full service law firms, Harper Macleod LLP has specialists across all legal disciplines, covering every service you are likely to need in both your business and personal life.

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